Tas. 6618. 
AMORPHA CANESCENS. 
Native of the United States. 
Nat. Ord. Leauminosz.—Tribe GaLEGER. 
Genus AmorpHa, Linn. ; (Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Pl. vol. i. p. 492.) 
AMORPHA canescens ; suffrutex erectus, strictus, cano-tomentosus v. puberulus, foliis 
confertis erecto-patentibus sessilibus lineari-elongatis, foliolis 10-24-jugis 
approximatis ellipticis oblongisve apiculatis basi rotundatis glanduloso-punctatis, 
stipulis stipellisque minutis, spicis apicem versus caulis subpaniculatis axillaribus 
et terminalibus breviter pedunculatis elongatis erectis strictis multi-conferti- 
floris, calycis dentibus ovato-lanceolatis, vexillo brevi dolabriformi oblique trun- 
cato, explanato orbiculari-obovato, legumine calycem vix superante 1-spermo., 
A. canescens, Nutt. in Fras. Cat, et Gen. vol. ii. p. 92; DC. Prodr. vol. ii. p. 256; 
Pursh. Fi. N. Am. vol. ii. p. 467; Hook. Fl. Bor, Am. vol. i. p. 139; Torr. 
et Gr. Fl. N. Am, vol.i. p. 306; A. Gray Man. Ed. 5, 130; Chapm. Fl. 
S. U. States, p. 94. 
This, the “ Lead Plant” of the United States, is said to 
be so called from a belief that its presence indicates the 
presence of that ore in the soil—a superstition probably 
due to the leaden hue of the plant; a better name is that 
of the genus, ‘‘ Bastard Indigo.” The geographical range 
of A. canescens is very extensive, from the Red-River settle- 
ment in British, America, southward to Georgia and 
‘Louisiana, and even Florida. It is a very beautiful plant, 
though making little show on a drawing, the amethystine 
blue standard, and golden yellow of the anthers, of the 
numerous flowers in numerous racemes, contrasting well 
with the dull silvery foliage. According to Loudon, it 
was introduced into England by Lyon in 1812; but it was 
never common, and soon went out of cultivation. He 
observes of it, that like all the other species of the genus, 
it requires to be well cut in every year, or to be planted in 
very poor soil, or it will not preserve its vitality for any 
length of time. 
APRIL lst, 1882, 
